Excessive consumption of the widely available supplement chromium could cause cancer, according to a new Australian study.

Chromium is marketed as a protection against Type 2 diabetes and as a so-called "sugar balance" pill to help weight loss.

But Australian researchers at the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales found that when chromium picolinate enters cells in the body, it is partially converted into a cancer-causing chemical.

"We actually don't know how many people take it," UNSW research fellow Dr Lindsay Wu said.

"We do know that it's widely available in pharmacies and it is present in many multi-vitamins."

Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council said 25 to 35 micrograms of chromium daily was adequate for adults, but some supplements contain up to 500 micrograms per tablet.

I certainly wouldn't take it. I think it's like most supplements - there's been poor clinical trial studies done.

Professor Peter Lay, University of Sydney.

"There's no real need to take chromium supplements," Dr Wu said.

"There's no role for it in the body.

"On top of that, knowing that it turns into a cancer-causing form inside the body is quite a concern, so we're recommending that people stop taking these supplements."

The University of Sydney's Professor Peter Lay has studied chromium biochemistry for about 30 years and is internationally recognised as one of the leaders in the field.

"And when you look at some of the things like folates and beta-Carotene when long-term clinical trials were done, they actually increased cancer risks, not decreased cancer risks."

Professor Lay said it would take between 10 and 40 years for chromium-produced cancers to develop in the body.

"The concern is people taking chromium supplements over a long period of time and people who are taking them at high concentration.

"Even at fairly low levels, if you're taking it for a long time, your chromium levels will build up.

Supplements industry refutes study's findings

The supplements industry is worth billions of dollars.

While a number of companies that sell chromium products did not respond to interview requests, those that did were sceptical of the research.

"Published studies show that chromium III does not easily transfer into cells and instead is stored or excreted," vitamin company Blackmores said in a statement.

A statement from Complementary Medicines Australia said, "The study looked at the injection of chromium III directly into mice fat cells, which does not take into account the physiological mechanisms of chromium handling by the body."

Professor Lay said that statement was incorrect.

"We didn't inject it. The cells absorbed it.

"The other statement was that there's no evidence from the various regulatory bodies that chromium is a cancer causing agent.

"Now, what the various regulatory bodies have also said is that there are concerns about the potential risks of chromium in cancer, and that proper clinical trials need to be conducted."

The research is published in the German chemistry journal, Angewandte Chemie.